Samoa

Samoa steps up preparations for 2019 Pac Games

Samoa was announced as the Games host four weeks ago, after Tonga pulled out in July, citing financial concerns.

President of the Samoa Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee, Patrick Fepuleai, said a lot needs to be achieved in a short space of time.

"We need to get our organising committee in place and with that we need a secretariat to help carry this out - these are the people that would be working full-time to help us deliver the Games," he said.

Pacific companies to promote products at Coffee and Chocolate Show

Wilex Samoa, a 100% locally owned family business, is showcase its delicately crafted KOKO LOA brand of chocolates.

The KOKO LOA is a new boutique cocoa brand that proudly celebrates its Samoan origins.

Elife’s Samoa Wild Tumeric is another Samoan product that will be promoted at the show this weekend.

Rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, Elife’s Samoa Wild Turmeric Juice is uniquely prepared with alkaline ionised water to ensure you experience its unique and natural flavour, without the interference of additives and preservatives.

Samoa signs host agreement with Pacific Games Council

Lakhan made the comment after signing the host agreement with Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi in Apia yesterday.

“When we got the bids, Samoa ticked all the boxes and came up with flying colors,” he said.

“Samoa met all the criterias from government backing and support to the availability of international sports facilities and two experts on the ground to facilitate, manage and deliver the level of competitions. By far, I am very confident that Samoa will deliver.”

Pacific Private Sector wants global climate funding to be more accessible

Speaking at a press conference in Apia, after their meeting with the Forum Leaders yesterday, Politini said the region should use Fiji’s COP23 Presidency as leverage to access the funds.

“The funding that is become available under the Green Climate Fund it is difficult to access for small Island states. 

“So I pleaded with the leaders because it comes through government level, they would have to negotiate for this to try to use their influence particularly that we have the COP23 chairmanship in the Pacific the most vulnerable through Fiji.

Pacific Forum leaders meet opens in Samoa

A traditional Ava ceremony was accorded the heads of the Forum-member delegations as well as the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Secretary General Dame Meg Taylor at the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum.

Samoa Prime Minister and Chair of the meeting, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi called on the leaders and member countries to stand together and implement the decisions that the leaders endorse at this year's meeting.

He also encouraged the Pacific to support Fiji's co-presidency of the COP 23, the annual round of the ongoing UN climate negotiations in Germany later this year.

Apia prepares for Forum leaders

Samoa’s capital is getting ready for the 48th Pacific Islands Forum.

The theme of the annual regional gathering is The Blue Pacific – Our Sea of Islands. The meeting will highlight the oceans, climate change and resource management, from tuna fisheries to deep seabed mining.

Speaking to journalists before the meeting, Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi said: “By the sheer fact of our geography, such as trends associated with shifts in the centres of global power, this places the Pacific at the centre of contemporary global geopolitics.”

Only Samoa and Guam left in Pac Games race

The Pacific Games Council has visited Samoa and Guam in the past fortnight to evaluate their bids but said with no government support forthcoming in Tahiti their initial expression of interest cannot be evaluated further.

The President of the Tahiti Olympic Committee, Tauhiti Nena, said they tried to persuade the administration to reconsider their decision no avail.

PGC team impressed with Samoa's bid for 2019 Pacific Games

The team of PGC President, Vidhya Lakhan and Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Minogue met with President Patrick Fepuleai and Executive Board of Samoa’s Pacific Games Association (SASNOC) to whom the Games would be entrusted if Samoa is successful.

They also met with Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, together with the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Sport Sili Epa Tuioti and Loau Solamalemalo Keneti Sio respectively and the Presidents and delegates of the sports proposed for the 2019 program.

Group B comes down to the wire

Already out of contention for the semi-final stage, competition debutants American Samoa will be out to cause an upset when they face Tonga in the opening match of the day. Tonga need a strong win – and Cook Islands to defeat Fiji – to equalise with Fiji on points and overtake the Melanesian nation on goal difference.

Feeling positive after claiming their first point of the competition on Monday, Tonga coach Lafaela Moala has put Cook Islands and Fiji’s encounter out of his mind and is keeping focus on repeating the impressive performance Tonga gave against Fiji.

PNG outclass Samoa while Fiji topple Vanuatu

The Garamuts backed up their day one win over Fiji with a mammoth 212 run win over a young Samoan side.

Opener and player of the match Igo John Mahuru (98 off 139 balls) led from the top to bring up the tournament’s first half century, unfortunately falling just short of his hundred after trying to go long down the ground.

He was ably supported by his captain Vagi Karaho (41 off 37 balls) and Kevau Tau (32* off 34 balls) as PNG set an imposing total of 295 from their 50 overs.